Ancient Temples + Cultural Encounters
Embark on a 9-day journey through Cambodia and Laos, featuring historic ruins, glistening temples, meaningful cultural encounters and peaceful countryside beauty. Tour these two fascinating Southeast Asian countries by foot, boat, car and more, gaining truly unique insight into both destinations.
At Travel Beyond, we believe your trip should be designed just for you, not for the masses. Our travel consultants create a custom itinerary for each client, offering recommendations for places and experiences that best fit your style. The itinerary below was planned for a past client, but we’re sharing it for travel inspiration and as an example of what a trip to Laos and Cambodia might look like. Let us know when we can design a trip just for you!
Welcome to Cambodia! Upon arrival, you will be met by a Travel Beyond representative who will assist you through a VIP customs process and on to your transfer to the Rosewood Phnom Penh, where you will stay for two nights.
In the evening, you will be transferred to Malis Restaurant for dinner.
Rosewood Phnom Penh Dinner
This morning, after breakfast, you will begin your tour of this charming capital with a visit to the Royal Palace, built in 1866 by King Norodom. Visit the Silver Pagoda, named after the 5,000 silver tiles lining its floor. Next, visit the Champey Academy of Arts, a local non-profit focused on training in the traditional Cambodian arts. Continue to the nearby National Museum, an exceptional example of traditional architecture and devoted to preserving and exhibiting Khmer art and sculptures. After the tour, enjoy lunch at Friends Restaurant, an establishment that provides at risk-youth the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the hospitality industry.
Afterwards, explore the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, located at the main interrogation and torture facility for the Khmer Rouge regime. Take a personal tour led by one of only seven survivors, an extraordinary man who will share his harrowing personal experiences with you. This is a heart-breaking but necessary place to visit in order to better understand and appreciate the resilience of the local people despite such a tragic past.
Rosewood Phnom Penh Breakfast / Lunch
Enjoy your morning at leisure before being transferred to the airport for your flight to Siem Reap.
Upon arrival in Siem Reap, you will meet your guide and drive to Phum Baitang, where you will spend three nights.
After enjoying an early dinner at Chanrey Tree Restaurant, you will visit the Phare Tent to watch a traditional Cambodian circus, which blends contortion, juggling, acrobatics, balancing and aerial arts with theatre, music and modern dance forms to tell uniquely Cambodian stories. Founded in 1994, Phare’s purpose is to not only entertain its guests but also to improve the development of local communities by providing education and professional artistic training.
Phum Baitang Breakfast / Dinner
This morning, following breakfast, you’ll tour Cambodia’s most remarkable Khmer architecture.
Start your day with a visit to the South Gate of Angkor Thom from where you can take a 1km walk along the wall to a hidden temple. You will then set off to explore the Terrace of the Elephants and the Terrace of the Leper Kings, the ruined Baphuon, and the mysterious Bayon Temple.
Enjoy a local lunch at Marum Restaurant before continuing on to the jungle-hidden Ta Prohm and the crowning jewel of Cambodia, Angkor Wat, the largest, best preserved, and most religiously significant of the Angkor temples.
Your day winds down with an unforgettable sunset, watched from either the east side of Angkor Wat or at Pre Rup temple.
Phum Baitang Breakfast / Lunch
This morning after breakfast, you will pay a visit to the “HeroRats,” a group of rats trained in landmine detection. They spend their days using their super senses to save lives, sniffing out bombs in the hopes of creating a safer future for rural Cambodia.
From here, you continue on to Banteay Srei, a Hindu temple built in the late 10th century. Dedicated to Shiva, its pink limestone walls contain the best bas reliefs of any temple at Angkor. Lunch will be enjoyed at Devatas Restaurant.
As the sun sets, you will board Fin Foot, a recently renovated fishing boat, for a cruise on Tonle Sap Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. Enjoy a BBQ dinner as you take in the sites of daily life in floating villages and sail past ancient communities of fishermen that have lived here for generations.
Phum Baitang Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Enjoy this morning at your leisure before transferring to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang, Laos.
Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, you will be escorted through a VIP customs process and be met by your guide for your transfer to Rosewood Luang Prabang Resort, where you will stay three nights.
Rosewood Luang Prabang Resort Breakfast
This morning, awaken early and begin your day joining in a local tradition of giving alms. As the sun slowly rises, you will provide food and offerings to the saffron-clad monks as they make their way slowly and silently through the streets. Afterwards, you’ll visit the Morning Market to see the array of meats, vegetables and spices that the locals use in their cooking. Return to your hotel for breakfast.
You will then set off, along with your private guide, to discover the main sights of Luang Prabang and get an insider’s view of the religion and culture of Laos. First is a visit to Wat Xieng Thong, the city’s best-known and most visited monastery, Wat Mai and Wat Sene. From there, you will wander local side streets and along back alleys, soaking up all of Luang Prabang’s charm.
You’ll stop at the National Museum, which was once the Royal Palace. Home to relics from Laos’ royalist past, you dive into the country’s rich history. Overlooking the palace is Phousi Mountain. It is said that those who do not climb the 328 steps up have not really made it to the city. Venture up the hill and be rewarded with remarkable views of the area.
Lunch will be enjoyed at 3 Nagas Restaurant.
The afternoon will be spent visiting the Pak Ou Caves. On board a small boat, your eyes will eventually adjust to the surrounding darkness to reveal more than 3,000 Buddha statues of all styles, sizes and ages carved into the limestone. Now a popular pilgrimage site, the caves were discovered in the 16th century and are believed to have been a center for spirit worship. Return to Luang Prabang by boat, passing by local fishing villages while enjoying a selection of typical Lao snacks.
Rosewood Luang Prabang Resort Breakfast / Lunch
Following breakfast, you will be driven outside the city to the Living Crafts Centre. Here, you will see how textiles are made and meet the weavers who help to keep these traditions alive.
Next, visit the Kuang Si Waterfall where cool, clear water cascades over limestone formations. The water tumbles 100 metres and gathers into stunning turquoise pools. Take a dip or choose to simply appreciate the scenery before enjoying a private picnic lunch.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the nearby Sunbear Refuge to learn more about these endangered creatures.
On the way back to Luang Prabang, you will stop at the Buffalo Dairy Farm, known for its sustainable approach to local farming. Following a guided tour of the farm, during which you will learn about how they work with the local community, you can partake in buffalo feeding & bathing, a milking demonstration, feeding chickens, pigs and rabbits, and bottle feeding calves. Relax in the café and enjoy the ‘cake of the day’ served with ice cream and tea or coffee.
Back at the hotel, enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.
Rosewood Luang Prabang Resort Breakfast / Lunch
Spend the day at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Overnight Flight Breakfast
